The City Engineering Department provides
municipal engineering services to the City
of Florence. Their responsibilities include
planning, design, construction, and
inspection of roadways, bridges, sanitary
sewers, and drainage. They assist in
preparing planning reviews and project
designs of public works projects and answer
public inquiries regarding rights-of way,
public property lines, stormwater drainage,
and sanitary sewerage.

The City Engineering Department prepares
traffic and accident studies of city streets
and performs field inspections of all
elements of the City infrastructure. The
department inspects commercial, industrial
and residential subdivisions. The
department also recommends maintenance
practices for streets, highways, bridges,
and other municipal improvements.

The department works closely with the Police
and Electricity Departments on traffic
related issues, with the Street Department
on issues related to roadways, bridges and
drainage, and with the Building and Planning
Departments for new developments.

What is the
procedure for getting a speed cushion
installed on a city street?

When a request
is made for a speed cushion, a speed/traffic
study is performed by the City Engineering
Department. The vehicle volume, the 85th
percentile speed, and the street
characteristics are evaluated and compared
against criteria established by the Traffic
Committee. If the street meets the
objective criteria for the installation of
speed cushions, it is then submitted to the
Traffic Committee for their review and
approval. Once a determination is made as
to whether or not a specific street meets
the criteria, the individual making the
request is notified of the results, and the
decision of the Traffic Committee.

After speed
cushions have been approved for a particular
street, the individual that requested them
is advised that a petition must be submitted
to the City with 70% of the residents on the
street agreeing to the installation. Once
the petition is received and verified,
installation of speed cushions can be
scheduled.

Note: Traffic
counts are performed over a 24-hour
period. After a traffic count is
completed, the City will not perform another
study on the same street for a period of
eighteen months.

In addition to
the City Engineer, the Police Chief, Fire
Chief, Emergency Management Director,
Planning Director, and the Electricity
Department Director of
Engineering/Operations are all members.

What is the
difference between "speed cushions" and
"speed bumps?"

Speed cushions
are made of recycled rubber. They are about
three inches high, and between 6 and 7 feet
long as measured in the direction of travel
and between 6 and 7 feet as measured
perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Typically, more than one cushion will be
used at any given location. The number of
cushions used will depend on the width of
the street. There is a space or gap between
each cushion. This space allows emergency
vehicles, typically having a wider wheel
base, to "straddle" the cushions with only a
minimal delay. Speed bumps are traffic
calming devices typically found in parking
lots. They are higher than speed cushions
and are typically less than one foot long in
the direction of travel. Speed bumps are
not used on public rights-of-way in
Florence.

What is the
"85th Percentile Speed"?

The 85th
percentile speed is the speed criteria
referred to in the Federal Highway
Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices. It is a measure frequently
used by traffic engineers to describe the
speed characteristics of a group of
vehicles. This level is the speed at which
85% of the vehicles are traveling at or
below.

Can "Children
at Play" signs be posted on my street?

No. The City
of Florence only places standard signs on
City Streets. Any sign placed must meet the
criteria in the Federal Highway
Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (MUTCD). "Children at Play"
signs are not included as a standard sign in
this manual. Studies have shown that signs
placed in residential areas for the purpose
of warning motorists of normal conditions,
do not improve safety. These signs may give
parents a false sense of security, since
motorists frequently ignore them.

Can additional
stop signs be placed at an intersection to
create a "4-Way Stop" or "All-Way Stop"
intersection system?

The City of
Florence places signs in accordance with the
MUTCD. This manual provides criteria based
on traffic volumes and accident totals for
the placement of stop signs. When a citizen
makes a request for additional signage, a
traffic study is performed and the results
compared against the criteria outlined in
this manual. If the criteria are met then
these sign systems are placed.

What are the
requirements for placement of a traffic
signal system?

As mentioned
in the above discussion for "4-Way Stop"
systems, the MUTCD provides criteria based
on traffic volumes and accident totals for
the placement of traffic signal systems.
When a citizen requests a traffic signal
system be installed, a traffic study is
performed to determine if the criteria
outlined in the MUTCD is satisfied. Before
a signal system is installed there is a
lengthy design and review process.

What do I do
if I have a drainage problem?

When the City
Engineering Department receives a request
for service related to a drainage problem, a
determination is made as to whether the
problem is routine or if it will require
extensive work. Many drainage problems are
routine in nature (i.e. stopped up catch
basins and pipes). These types of problems
are addressed as they are received.

There are
other drainage related problems that require
extensive work. These projects are
prioritized on the City's Drainage List.
The prioritization is made based on the
seriousness of the problem. After a
specific request is evaluated the problem is
assigned a grade from 1 to 7. The lower the
grade the more serious the problem and the
higher the project will be on the city's
drainage list.

Note: There
are many drainage related problems on
private property. The property owner is
responsible for these problems. The city
will only work within a right-of-way or a
drainage easement.

Does the City
require a permit to work in a right-of-way
or an easement and how much does it cost?

The City Code
requires a permit to open cut, repair or
modify a street, alley, or other public
right-or-way or easement within the
corporate limits. Permits are issued by the
City Engineering Department and there is no
charge. All work must be performed by a
licensed contractor.

Does the City
Engineering Department require any other
permits?

Construction
activities produce many different kinds of
pollutants that may cause stormwater
contamination problems. As part of its
municipal stormwater management program the
City of Florence requires a construction
site permit for any site with a disturbed
area of one-acre or greater.

Any violations
of the City's Stormwater Management Program
and/or any illicit discharge activities
observed can be reported to the City
Engineer at (256) 760-6350.

How do I get
my street paved?

In preparation
for a Street Resurfacing Project, all the
streets in the City are inspected and
graded. Streets with the most serious
defects are at the top of the list. The
type of defects noted in the inspection and
the type of street are both considered in
developing a paving program.

Who is
responsible for the traffic signal systems
in Florence?

The Alabama
Department of Transportation is the owner of
all the signal systems located on state
highways in the corporate limits. Although
the City is responsible for the maintenance
of the signal system, the State is the
owner. Any modification to a traffic signal
system, including, but not limited to timing
adjustments is the responsibility of the
state. When the City receives a request for
modification to a traffic signal on a state
route, we notify the state. Again, the city
is responsible for the maintenance of all
signal systems in the city limits.
Maintenance is typically limited to routine
activities and replacement of faulty
components.

7.Patton Island
Corridor from the Patton Island Bridge north
to Florence Boulevard

8.Court Street
from O'Neal Bridge north to Dr. Hicks
Boulevard

9.Dr. Hicks
Boulevard from Tennessee Street to Court
Street

All signal
systems located on the above
streets/highways are owned by the Alabama
Department of Transportation.

What is the
procedure for getting a sidewalk repaired?

The Street
Department maintains a list of sections of
sidewalk in the city that need repairing.
When a citizen requests that a sidewalk be
repaired the sidewalk is inspected and
graded by the Street Department. Sidewalks
are repaired on a priority basis with
available funds. When the City Engineering
Department receives a request of this type,
it is forwarded to the Street Department.

What is the
procedure for constructing a driveway
turnout?

The builder
and/or property owner is responsible for the
construction of a driveway turnout for all
new construction in the City of Florence.
This work must conform to city standards.
For existing residential properties, the
city will construct a driveway turnout if
the property owner pays for the concrete.
For information on this program, please
contact the Street Department (760-6460), or
the City Engineering Department (760-6350).
The waiting list is long, and it may take
awhile for the Street Department to do this
work.

What is the
procedure for subdivision acceptance?

Prior to
signing a subdivision plat, a surety to
guarantee completion of all public
improvements to city standards must be
submitted to the City. When all public
improvements have been completed and the
engineer has submitted all test reports and
provided the City with a set of as-built
plans, the engineer of record submits a
letter to the City Engineering Department
certifying that all work has been completed
in accordance with the approved plans and
specifications. The City Engineering
Department then inspects the subdivision
with the engineer and notes any
deficiencies. When all outstanding issues
have been addressed, preliminary acceptance
is granted. The subdivision is eligible for
final acceptance one year after the date of
preliminary acceptance. The developer is
responsible for correcting any deficiencies
that develop in the one-year period between
preliminary and final acceptance. After
final acceptance is granted, a resolution
granting subdivision acceptance is submitted
to the City Council. When the resolution is
passed, the City becomes responsible for the
maintenance of the subdivision.

Are there any
standard construction details for public
works improvements in the City?

The City
Engineering Department maintains a set of
standard construction details. These will
be provided upon request. There will be a
minimal cost to cover reproduction
expenses.